Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. A day of gorging, watching football, and being with family. It’s my favorite holiday of the year. My birthday is three days following it and it’s a kick-off to the holiday season. I can’t help but get swept up in the magic of the season and I turn into a five-year-old kid on Christmas Eve, anticipating what the next day will be like.
But Thanksgiving. A day of giving thanks. I haven’t missed the many posts floating around the blogosphere of people giving thanks. This year hasn’t been my favorite, but some great things have happened:
- My mom survived getting hit by a car
- My grandma finished chemotherapy and is now cancer-free
- My nephew turned two and now says things like, “Nananny, I love you.”
- I designed a spectacular 18-page magazine
- I grew this blog and met some of my closest friends
- I started running and have run four races this year. (I will have completed six by the end of 2010.)
- I began a journey of self-discovery and have learned so much about the woman I am becoming
Some horrible things have happened:
- My. Mom. Got. Hit. By. A. Car. (I still shudder when I think how worse this could have been.)
- My grandma got cancer again
- I ended my relationship with my father
- I dealt with more anxiety and fear than I ever have in my life
- I had major meltdowns while trying to deal with school stress
A lot happened. A lot didn’t happen. But I am thankful for a lot this year. I am thankful for my family and the outpouring of support I have received. I am thankful for the relationship I have with my mom. Our close relationship is something I treasure since I know many people don’t have this type of relationship. I am thankful for being an aunt because my nephew brings me more joy and happiness than I ever thought possible. I am thankful for the pushes and shoves I have gotten from family, professors, and God to be better than I ever thought I could be. I am thankful for God. For supporting me. For loving me when I know I can be extremely unlovable. For giving me tests and challenges, knowing I can handle them. And for always believing in me and always being there for me, even when I push Him away.
This blog is going to be silent until Tuesday as I spend time with my family and friends and visit Orlando for a fun mini-vacation. I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving!
What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving? Tell me in the comments!
Have a great holiday weekend!! Love your magazine layout!
Aww, this is beautiful. This year has been such a rollercoaster for you but I must say, it's been full of so much growth and I see that emanating from every post of yours 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving and almost-birthday!
Happy Thanksgiving, Stephany! Have a wonderful, wonderful time with your family 🙂
You've had a heck of a year, but I'm so glad that you're focusing on your blessings and on moving forward to an amazing year 🙂
This year has been a rollercoaster for me too. I am thankful to have survived it. Good things ahead!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Stephany. I'm thankful that I know you and so many other wonderful bloggers!
I can't remember how I stumbled on your blog and what hooked me but I'm so glad to have you and your blog. Also, happy almost birthday! Enjoy your birthday trip!
What a wild year you've had–so much reflection to be had, I'm sure. Enjoy a peaceful Thanksgiving with your family!
Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you have a love Thanksgiving with your family 🙂
Thanks for the note on my blog- I think I'm pretty good with constructive feedback about teaching… my issue would be if for example the person was wearing inappropriate clothing or coming in late or something non teaching related where it was more confrontational and less "constructive feedback" haha
You have had quite an eventful year, but also one of growth – here's to hoping that outweighs the bad!
This is a fabulous list! Hooray for optimism. I am thankful for so much too!
I would definitely say that pros list is pretty awesome!!! I'm got a thankful post coming tomorrow. Have a good day tomorrow!
I like that little magazine you made, so cool! I like how Emily is all up in it. haha.
It sure sounds like you had a lot going on this year. It's great that you're trying to focus on the positive, rather than the negative.
I hope you have a wonderful time with your family. You deserve it.
Great post Steph!! Loving the Thanksgiving theme. I might do this next year:)
Just now reading this. Sounds like you've had a doozy of a year, but your perspective on it is great – and healthy. May 2011 be good to you. <3
I love this post… actually, I just love the way you write in general. I am so, so glad your mom is ok, and your grandma has been victorious over her cancer!! That really makes me so happy to hear!!
And btw, I would fill out my address to be on the Christmas card list, but I promised my husband I wouldn't give out our address to people I haven't actually met. 🙁 I trust you, but my hubby thinks everyone on the Internet is a crazy stalker that's gonna show up at our house with a chainsaw or something! Hehehe!!
Have a great week Stephany!